South African President Cyril Ramaphosa yesterday announced a series of measures to combat corruption in the state apparatus and warned the corrupt that they "have nowhere to hide."

"Corruption is a betrayal of our democracy and an attack on the institutions we have established together to promote the values of our Constitution and the interests of our people," Cyril Ramaphosa said in a speech to the nation, shown on television and quoted by Efe and Lusa news agencies.

The president indicated that an independent anti-corruption agency will be created for public procurement, as well as a permanent anti-corruption commission with oversight by parliament and the executive.

In addition, Cyril Ramaphosa announced legislative reforms for greater transparency and consultation in the selection and appointment of the leader of the Public Ministry.

The head of state also stressed the need for an appointment process for the boards of state-owned enterprises that is not open to manipulation, and said that ministers will be forbidden to play any role in public procurement.

The South African President released these initiatives in response to the recommendations of a judicial commission formed to investigate a corruption ring that formed in the state apparatus during the tenure of his predecessor, Jacob Zuma.

A special commission, chaired by Judge Raymond Zondo, revealed that contracts worth several billion rand had been "irregularly contracted for the benefit of entities linked to the Gupta family," a clan of Indian-origin businessmen with close ties to former South African President Jacob Zuma.

The four-year investigation into corruption cases involving Jacob Zuma found that there were even "planned extortion offenses" within the Transnet operator for the Guptas who moved to South Africa in 1993.

The network of corruption that has looted several state-owned enterprises is often called "state capture" in South Africa.